Obama: 'I'm Not Strapping Muslim Socialist I Used to Be'

Conan O'Brien slaps Joe Biden at White House Correspondents' Dinner

(Newser)
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This year's White House Correspondents' Dinner saw laughs mixed with reflection on tragedies in Boston and Texas. President Obama took shots at the GOP and the media—not to mention himself. Among his best jokes, via Politico and the Los Angeles Times:

"Some folks still don’t think I spend enough time with Congress. ‘Why don’t you get a drink with Mitch McConnell?’ they ask. Really? Why don’t you get a drink with Mitch McConnell?"

On the changing world of the media: "I remember when Buzzfeed was just something I did in college at 2am."

"These days I look in the mirror and I have to admit, I’m not the strapping young Muslim socialist I used to be."

"Like the president, I too, recently got in some hot water by talking about a public official's good looks ... It was the time I wouldn't shut up about that stone-cold fox, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood."

"When you think about it, the president and I are a lot alike. We both went to Harvard. We both have two children. And we both told Joe Biden we didn't have extra tickets for tonight's event."

"To any US senators here tonight, if you would like to switch either your dessert or your position on gay marriage, please signal a waiter."

But the president also had some serious words: "As we gather here tonight, our thoughts are not far from the people of Boston, the people of West, Texas, and in the Midwest there are some people coping with some terrible floods," he noted, adding to media guests: "If we’re only focused on profits, on ratings, and on polls, we are contributing to the sense of cynicism that’s out there right now."

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